Rays’ Archer, Boxberger named AL All-Stars for first time

Tampa Bay Rays right-handers Chris Archer and Brad Boxberger have been named to the American League All-Star team.

Archer holds a 9-5 record and a 2.18 ERA in 18 starts. The 26-year-old righty is tied for first with reigning AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber with 141 strikeouts. He paces the league with a 0.951 WHIP and .196 opponent’s batting average. In 115 2/3 innings, Archer has permitted just 82 hits and 28 walks to garner his first All-Star nod.

Boxberger is 4-4 with a 2.48 ERA and 20 saves — fourth most in the AL — in 36 relief outings. He has blown just two save opportunities for a 90.9 percentage. The 27-year-old closer, who earned his first All-Star selection, had just three saves from 2012-14 to open his big-league career. Boxberger has struck out 46 batters in 32 2/3 frames, the fifth-highest number among AL relievers.

This marks the first time since 2013 that two Rays will represent the ballclub at the Midsummer Classic and the first instance in three years there will be two pitchers. Tampa Bay has had a starting pitcher named in each of the last six seasons. Only the Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants have streaks as long.